Korean Media: CATL Launches "Sodium-Ion Energy Storage System" Just One Month Ago, Secures First European Order!

On July 17, South Korean media outlet JoongAng Ilbo reported that CATL, the world's largest battery company headquartered in China, has secured a European order approximately one month after launching its sodium-ion battery energy storage system.

CATL recently announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alfen, a European renewable energy integrator, to begin constructing 5 GWh of sodium-based energy storage systems across Western Europe countries including the Netherlands starting next year.

CATL launched its sodium-ion battery energy storage system, named "Tianheng," on the 22nd of last month and has already obtained an order from Europe within less than a month.

According to CATL, the Tianheng system has a capacity of 30 megawatt-hours, supports energy storage durations ranging from 1 to 8 hours, and boasts a lifespan of up to 25 years. At 25°C, the Tianheng battery can endure over 15,000 charge-discharge cycles; even under high temperatures of 45°C, it maintains more than 10,000 cycles. Notably, unlike lithium-ion batteries whose performance significantly declines at low temperatures, the Tianheng battery retains 92% of its energy capacity even at as low as -20°C.

CATL plans to leverage this collaboration with Alfen to accumulate experience providing sodium-ion battery energy storage solutions for European power grids and enhance product compatibility.

The Tianheng system is expected to be initially supplied in China in September this year. CATL forecasts that by the end of this year, Tianheng’s shipment volume will reach 1 gigawatt-hour. Global supply will commence in June next year.

Previously, CATL Chairman Zeng Yujun predicted that sodium-ion batteries, due to their cost competitiveness and other advantages, could capture about 30% to 40% of the existing battery market share.

In South Korea, sodium-ion batteries are still in the preparation phase for mass production. LG Energy Solution has announced plans to begin mass-producing its first-generation sodium-ion batteries next year. Samsung SDI intends to establish a mass production line for sodium-ion batteries at its Ulsan plant.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871017737393161/

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